Helloween (2025) (Blu-ray Review)
DIRECTED BY: Phil Claydon
STARRING: Ronan Summers, Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, Caroline Wilde
RATED: UR/Region: B/1:85/1080P/NUMBER OF DISCS 1
AVAILABLE FROM 101 Films
From the opening moments, it’s clear Claydon is in love with horror’s greatest hits: Carpenter’s Halloween, It, The Purge, and more. Rather than pretending those giants don’t exist, he tips his hat to them—and then jumps headlong into the chaos. Spoiler: the homage sometimes borders on copy-paste, but bizarrely, that’s part of its charm.
The real MVP here is Ronan Summers as Carl Cane. He chews scenery like he’s starving, delivers creepy monologues with the kind of confidence that makes you uncomfortable, and somehow makes you care just enough about the psychotic rhetoric that you resent him for being compelling. He specializes in turning what could be a cheap costume-villain into something that lingers.
Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott as Dr. Ellen Marks anchors the chaos well. She’s the kind of horror protagonist that doesn’t get enough credit—her steely resolve, her moral bearings, even when the world (and killer clowns) go mad, she grounds us. Michael Paré does what he does best: show up, look serious, and basically be the guy pointing out that maybe this clown business is bad.
Now for the rough edges, because yes, there are some. The pacing stutters early — first act feels more “let’s set everything in motion” than “let’s keep you on the edge of your seat.” Some plot threads are more “suggested” than “explained,” especially around how widespread the clown chaos is. And if you’re here for full-on splatter (gore-porn level), this isn’t going to satisfy that itch. Terrifier fans might leave muttering.
But—and this is where Claydon wins—there are moments where Helloween actually feels like something more than homage. The aesthetic works, the mood is lean, and when it leans into its horror roots, it delivers. It’s messy, occasionally derivative, sometimes unpolished—but like a well-used haunted house attraction, it gets in under your skin anyway.
Overall verdict: Helloween isn’t going to displace It or Halloween in the horror pantheon, but if you’re craving a creepy clown movie with attitude, a villain who actually gives you chills, and enough chaos to make you double-check the locks on your windows, this is your ticket. We may have seen this party before—but we’ll happily stay for the after-party.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Commentary with director Phil Claydon
• Making of featurette
• Deleted scenes
• Trailer
